Causes and Impacts of Land Degradation (Published)
Land degradation is the result of complex interaction among, physical, chemical, biological, socio-economic and political issues of local, national or global nature. Land degradation affects the economy and also has many negative impacts on agricultural productivity by reducing the fertility of agricultural land. Land degradation is increasing in severity and extent in many parts of the world, with more than 20% of all cultivated areas, 30% of forests and 10% of grasslands undergoing degradation. Millions of hectares of land per year are being degraded in all climatic regions. It is estimated that 2.6 billion people are affected by land degradation and desertification in more than a hundred countries, influencing over 33% of the earth´s land surface. The attitude of the community about the consequences of land degradation on agricultural productivity
Keywords: : Erosion, Deforestation, Impact, Land Degradation, cause
Stabilization of Erosive Soil Using Some Inorganic Chemicals: Oba Excavation Site, as a Case Study (Published)
Soil erosion has become a serious topic of discussion in Anambra State, Nigeria because it has constituted to serious negative challenges in the economic livelihood of different communities in the State. This study is therefore aimed at using some inorganic chemicals to stabilize an erosive soil in Oba (a town in Anambra State). Laboratory analyses for the determination of the particle size distribution and inorganic chemical stabilization determination were carried out on the Oba soil sample. From the results obtained, it was discovered that the soil sample has a high percentage of sandy soil particles compared to the clay and the silt soil particles. After the soil sample was stabilized using the AlCl3, CaCl2, MgCl2, Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3, it was discovered that AlCl3 and CaCl2 had the highest stabilizing power while the Ca(OH)2 had the least stabilizing power. This was confirmed by using a pocket penetrometer.
Keywords: : Erosion, Inorganic, chemicals, penetrometer